Machine for molding plastic material



Dec. 15, 1931. N. BIGTON ET AL 1,336,006

MACHINE FOR MOLDING PLASTIC MATERIAL Filed Nov. 1927 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Nicolai L Bz'glon Loaia X bar/mid w ATTORN E l Dec. 1 5, 1931. .N. BIGTON ET AL ,8

MACHINE FOR MOLDING PLASTIC MATERIAL Filed Nov. 17, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 INVENTORS NicolazLLfiQglon LoullsX. Gar/wzlceb I ATTORNEY Dec." 15, 1931. N. L. BIGTON ET AL MACHINE FOR MOLDING PLASTIC MATERIAL INVENTORS NwolaiL. Bz'gton LouisX. Garfunkel .BY d

192'? 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNLY Filed Nov. 17.

Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES 'o .+F1E,-;

.mcomu LEWIS BIGTON, or CAMDEN, NEW mgmo'uis x. emnxxm or NEW you N. z, ASSIGNOBS 'ro aurom'nc momma comm,-

INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK 4 mcnnm FOB noLnme-rmis'ric Application-filed November r), 1927. serial No.'-238,930

This invention relates to machines for molding plastic material. More part cularly, the invention is directed to a devlce for forming comminuted meat material, pre- 5 pared for the making of meatballs, hamburger steaks, and the like, or other plastic or easily shaped materials, into the customary cakes. I s I One object of this invention is to rovide a machine of the character describe com pactly assembled, mounted for easyremoval of the several parts for repairs, cleaning, substitution or replacement, or the like, and which shall be of sturdy construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine ofthe character described in which all the parts for preparing the cakes are mounted upon a single base, and in which the direction of the movement of the material charge therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a machine of the character described,

which, in addition to forming the cake, also applies in eifective and efiicient manner a coating of cracker crumbs or a similar dust-.

ing material to surfaces of the cake.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character described, whereby cakes of different sizes may be made, having means for applying the coating above described, said means being arranged so that cakes of different sizes may be properly coated.

I .An additional object is to provide in the hopper feed of a machine of the character.

described, means for positively feeding the'i plastic material contained in said hopper to a cake-forming means made a part of said machine.

A further object is to provide in a ma chine-of the character described in conjunction with the forming means, a positive means out.

The invention accordingly consists in the is in a straight line from the point of its admission to the machine to the point of disfor removing finished cakes from the form-- features of construction, combinations of ele- Inents, and arrangement of parts 'whichwill be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of-which the scope of applica- I tion .will be indicated in the following claims. In; the accompanying drawings, in which is shown oneof the yarious possible illustra;

, tive embodiments of this invention,

3 Fig. lis'aside'elevational view of a machine embodying theinvention.

" Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine-shown in Fig. 1. r v Fig- 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 3+3 of Fig.'2 of thehopper, forming plate, and discharge conveyor. r

' Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 4+4 of Fig. 2, showing the forming plate and its associated cracker crumb feedbox;

f Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the arcuate line 5-"5 of-Fig. 2, showing there lation ofthe elements in the forming plate with parts of saidhopper.

Fig. 6 is apartlal plan view of a portion of the forming plate, the piston plate being removed to show features of the invention. Fig. '7 is anelevational view of a detail of the hopper and the formingplate.

Q Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional viewv of a modified form of cracker crumb spreading means.

=The -'ma'chine embodying the invention shown. on the drawings" comprises a'base' 10 having the bracket support 11 mounted at one end thereof to carry the power device 12.

"Saidj'power device has coupled connection with the drive device 16. Mounted on saiddrive device and con'nectedthereto in-a manner-liereinafter described is the hopper18'.

the-forming plate 22 rotatably associated therewith, said pl'atehaving a number of mold openings 2&1, which are movable into position under the discharge opening 26 of hopper 18.. Said mold openings 24, in moved in o gs 24,-. are actuatedby' a cam device 32 to eject the formed cake :from said A fixed support 20 on said base 10 carries the cake so that it will slide oif plate 22 upon a chain belt 36, which conveys the cake to a storage container or the like, or, if desired,

may deposit it within a suitable cooking device (not shown). Positioned over plate 22 is the cracker crumb spreader 38, which is so related to hopper 18 that a coating of crumbs will be applied to said plate before it moves under the discharge opening 26. Llkewise, a cracker crumb spreade1z40 is supported over belt 36 to continuously discharge cracker crumbs thereon so that any material passmg over belt 36 will be properly coated.

The drive device 16 consists of a casing 42, in which is mounted the worm gear 44 fixed to the shaft '46, which extends vertically from said casing at both ends thereof. The

worm 48 which engages the worm gear 44 is fixed to shaft 50, extending horizontally out of casing 42 and having one section 52of the coupling 54 carried at the end thereof. The other section 51 of said coupling is carried on the shaft portion 53 of the power device 12, a shear pin 55 being made a part of said coupling to safeguard against excessive overloads onsaid power device, which maybe an ordinary electric motor.

In order to fix the vertical position of shaft end 53 with respect to shaft 50, for properly connecting the sections 51, 52 of coupling 54, the bracket 11 is adjustably mounted at one side of base 10, the capscrews 58, extending from base 10, and slots (not shown) in the side of bracket 11 providing adjusting and securing means for this purpose.

. Fixed on the upwardly extending portion 60 of shaft 46 and resting on casing 42 is the gear 62, the base p1ate 64 of hopper 18 beingsupported on said gear and being retained against rotary movement in the manner hereinafter described. The body 66 of hopper 18 is suitably mounted in the base plate 64 in any well known manner, as by being pressed thereinto.

The extreme end of shaft 46 is formed with the threads 68, as shown in Fig. 3, the internally threaded body portion 7 0 being re- ,ceived on said threads. Said body portion carries a feeding member 61 and the agitator 63, preferably .formed integral therewith.

The feedin member 61 consists of the angularly biase extending blades 65, located in proximity to the upper surface 67 of base plate 64. The agitator 63 comprises the blades 69, extendin from body portion 70 substantially in a p ane at right angles, and having an angular bias similar to that of blades 65, said blades 69 being spaced, vertically from the plane of blades 65. Mounted on the body portion 7 O'intermediate feeding member 61 and agitator 63 is the stop blade 71, freely rotatable on said body portion and in hopper 18, but restrained against moving within passage 74 is adapted to contact with the end of shaft 46. By this last described means, the effective distance between the upper surface 67 of base plate 64 and blades 65 of feeding member 61 may be controlled in order to control the feed pressure of mathat, as the shaft 46 rotates and blades 65 and terial forced from hopper 18. By this means,

it is possible to form very thin cakes of plastic material since the feeding member 61 may be regulated to apply a very high or a low pressure to material discharging from opening 26, such regulation being" made by the operator in accordance with the plasticity, temperature, and texture of the material to be handled and with the thickness of the cake to be formed. The biased blades of agitator 63 tend to prevent theformation of pockets in the material placed in hopper 18. The blade 71 tends to stop the movement of theentire mass of material contained in hopper 18, a condition which takes place in a mass of viscous, sticky material. In such cases, the feeding member 61 and agitator 63 would tend to pick up the entire mass and rotate it around shaft 46. Blade 71, stopped by projection 73 will restrain any such movement of the plastic mass. Blade 71 has been found to be most effective when positioned so that it is practically tangent with that edge of opening 26 by which the mold openings 24 pass last in their movement past'hopper 18. The material being forced around by feeding member 61 is crowded against blade 71 and assists the blades 65 of feeding member 61 in becoming efi'ectiveto compress the material into the openings 24 just as they move out of the effective range of hopper 18.

Fixed support 20 comprises the boss 90,

preferably made integral with base 10, and T I. 120

having fixedly mounted therein the spur shaft 92'secured against rotary movement by the pin 94. Rotatably received on said shaft 92 and supported on boss is the forming plate ed portion 86.

1,ase,ooe I spur shaft 92, which' 'extends above forming A plate22' to terminate in the reduced threadceiv es the wing nut 88 forreta1ning plate 22 against vertical .movement. The pressure :-contact of the lower face 81 of projection 80 upon the plate 22 may be regulated by' v wing nut 88.

The other end of projection 80 extends beyond the periphery ofplate 22, and terminates in an ear 83 having an opening therethrough for reception upon a vertical supregulatin this pressure contact, passage of materlal rom hopper 18 out'on plate 22 other than through the openings 24, may beprevented.

(Plate 22 is preferably circular in shape and f hasformed therethrough a number of the openings 24 positioned i 116, provides an adjustable stop so that their centers are preferably evenly spaced on a circle con centric with said plate. openings extends the rib 102 havingan opening 104 inthe. middle thereof to receive the pusher-rod 106 of a piston 108. A pin 110 extending through rod 106 retains 'a spring 112 on said rod, said spring contacting the under surface of rib 102. l A set screw 114 threaded through rib 102 and adapted to be maintained in afixedposition by alock nut for the piston 108.

Projection 80 has an arcuate passage 122 formed therein, the arc of said assage being .concentric with plate 22.

aid passage opens at the hopper end into discharge opening 26, which extends from the point 120, at which openings 24 pass under hopper 18, to a position 118 just short ofthe exit of said openings therefrom, this position being defined by' portion 119 of base plate 64 covering the end of passage 122. At point 120, a portion of the vertical wall of the body portion of base plate 64 is cut away to provide the opening 72. Said opening, for a. purpose hereinafter to appear, is of er'ably greater than that of any opening 24 in plate 22. I I

The ceiling 123 of passage 122, as seen from Figs. 3 and 5, slopes downwardly from the fine edge 125 at position 118 to the scraper edge 28. It will thus be seen that, as opening 24 moves under thebase plate 64 and into registry with opemng 26, material from hop-- per 18 will drop, or be forced by the feedingmember 61, thereinto. Then, as the opening 24 moves past the edge 125, excess-material is cut ofi, the inclined ceiling 1'23 further removing such material gradually, at the sametime compressing the material retained in the mold opening. Edge 28 cleans Said threadedportion 86 rerods 126,

Across each of these a width consid-- Mounted concent' 'cally with the fixed sup- I port 20 on base 10 is the cam 124 of. cam device 32'held in fixed position by the threaded secured to base 10in any suitable manner. The lower end of rod 106 of eject ing means 30 is adapted to ride on earn 124, and to come into contact with the rising surface 130 'ust as the opening 24 has complete- .from the scraper edge 28, as seen 1y passe 5. The cake formed in said mold in Fig.

opemng 24 is thenpushedupwardly by the piston 108 until the entire cake is on the top surface of plate 22. Preferably the extreme rise of surface130 is suflicient to raise the upper surface of piston 108 slightly above the plane of plate 22. It has been found that,

by"this construction, the separation of the cake from the mold iscomplete and the removal of said cake, in the manner hereinafter described, facilitated.

. Plate 22 has afiixed at its outer periph ery the 'annulargear 132, secured toi the plate 22 by means of the cap. screws 134. Said gear meshes. with the gear 62 fixed on shaft 46. By this means, positive drive of said plate is assured. It is to be understood that the gearing of plate 22 to shaft' such that the feeding member 61 will make one complete revolutionfor eaclitwo openings 24 passing opening26. Also the blades of feeding member 61 areso timed that the upper edge of the blade is just passing one edge' of-opening 26 as an edge of opening 24 moves into cooperative relation with opening 26, while the lower edge of the blade and an edge of opening 26 will simultaneouslypass edge 125.

Downwardly extending portion 144 of shaft46 isprovided with a sprocket 146,

upon which is carried .the chain belt 148. .Said belt '148 is carried from shaft46 over shaft 150 and'around shaft 152 in order to drive devices connected mechanically with said shafts.

Shaft-150 is supported in the bearings 154,

which is provided with the slide 164 to cooperate with the guides 166 on said bracket. whereby the spreader may readily be removed from said bracket. Mounted in sald hopper end is the shaft 168 on which 1s secured the agitator member 170 cooperatlng with the .foraminated plate 172 by means of which cracker crumbs or the'like'in container 160 will be thrown out'through the gerforations of plate haft 168 extends beyond said hopper end and between said guides, and has secured to its external portion the bevel gear 174, adapted to mesh with the bevel gear 176 fixed to 172 upon the plate '22.

. If desired, thls variation in the size of the discharge opening may be accomplished, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, by providing at the lower extremity of the hopper end 162, a guide 178 for. slidably receivingimperforate plates 180 in close contact with the foraminated plate 172. By moving these plates with respect to each other in guide 17 8, a variation in theefi'ective discharge opening inv hopper end 162 is produced vby shutting off a rziy desired number of perforations in plate 1 2. r

In Fig. 8 is shown a modified means for controlling the feed from hopper end 162.

In this construction a depending ear 163 is formed integral with hopper end 162, re- .Ceiving in a threaded opening 165 therethrough, the adjusting screw 167. Swivelled 2 on the inwardly extending end of said screw is. the depending lug 169 at one end of a plate 171 supported in guides 173,175 .to be slidable parallel to the fixed foraminated plate 177. Plate 171 has openings 179 formed .3 therethrough,'presenting a pattern substantially'identical with that of plate 177. It will'be readily seen that-by rotating screw 167, plate 171 will be fed relative to plate 177, decreasing or increasing the effective I area of the discharge openings in plate 171.

I Adjusting means 182 is provided in the- 1 -foot 184 of bracket 158 by means of which the spreader 38 may be moved in or out in relation to .plate 22; or, by removing one of 40 the nuts 183 of said adjusting means, the

bracket 158 and the parts carried thereby may be swung away from plate 22 whenever it is desired to clean said plate or remove it from support 20. If both nuts 183 be removed,

bracket 158 and the parts supported thereon may be entirely removed from base 10.

Shaft 152-is supported in bracket 186 in aimanner similar toshaft 150. A bevel gear 188 at the upper portion of said shaft meshes with a complementary gear 190 carried on I one end of horizontal shaft 192, the latter being supported in the'upright bearings 194,

which may be made integral with bracket 186,

and having sprocket 196secured at the other end thereof. Shaft 192, between the bearings 194, carries the composite sprocket 198, which provides the drive means forthe chain belt 36.

' Two cantilever arms 200 are mounted on I shaft'192 between bearings 194 and carry at their outer ends theroller 202 adjustably supported in said armsby means of the slot 204 'and lock-nuts and; washers 206, 208. An

arcuately formed portion 210 on each of said arms 200. is providedv with an arcuate slot 212 v to receive the pin 214 extending Between the bearings 194 by means of which the angularity of chain belt 36 with respect to plate 22 may be controlled. I

Sprocket 196 at the end of shaft 192 is connected by a chain belt 215 or the like with the sprocket 216 on the end of shaft 218 extending into the hopper end 220 of cracker crumb spreaden 40. I Said spreader may be removably mounted in a manner similar to that used for cracker crumb spreader 38 or may have applied thereto the variable discharge openings previously described.

Belt 36 is foraminous, due to its chain construction, and any excess of cracker crumbs will fall through the belt upon any support on which the base 10 may rest or into any' suitable receiving retainer (not shown) positioned below belt 36. I It is, of course, apparent that as cake C moves-through the curtain of cracker crumbs falling from spreader 40, crumbs will attach themselves not only to the top surface but, due to the adhesive nature' of the material of the cake, to the edges thereof also. I 7 I 1 On the extreme end of shaft 152 is secured the sprocket 222 driving the belt or chain 224 supported so as to present amoving vertical surface and extending over plate 22 to be received upon the sprocket 226, adj ustably supported in the inwardly extending canti lever bracket 228. This bracket consists of a plate 230 mounted on shaft 152, supported on sprocket 222 and retained against vertical movement on said shaft by means of the lock nut 232. Said bracket 228 is adjustable to bring the plane of belt or chain 224 into various relations with the openings I 24 in plate 22 by means of the slot 234 and the associated pin and lock nut 236, the latter being secured to a fixed portion of the bracket 186 for retaining said bracket against rotary movement. I

An idler sprocket 231 is a'dj'ustably supported on plate 230 and is movable to give belt 224 an angular'bias in order to properly guide a formed cake C oif plate 22. The

scraper 238 comprises-a plate 239 pivoted about the extending end of the spur shaft of gear 226 and having a downwardly extending edge 240- contacting with the upper surface -of plate '22, the angularity of said edge with relation to the plane of chain 224 being adjustable by means of the slot 242-and the pin and lock nut 244, said pin being secured to plate 230. If desired, downwardly extending edge 240 may be embodied in a piece separate from platec239'and hinged thereto, a

spring means being provided to retain said edge in contact with plate 22.

'Inoperation, the body 66 of hopper 18 is filled with a comminuted, or plastic, or similar material, after which power is applied to the power'device 12. The feeding member 61 will now become operative to force said material throughopening 26 down the pasa e 122 an mi to the we of pi-ate 22' 1 1mv 22, rotated by the drivedevice-'16, ear 62 and annular'gear 132, moves the 'mol fopenings-24 into communication jwithpassage 122,

material passing to mold openings24 under the control of'feedingmember-fiL {As the move pastthe scraperedge 28 the openings upper surface of the cake insaid moldopen- I ing will be determined so that the cani'devi'ce 32 may positively eject a completedcake by -means of,the'piston 108. During this time,

" the spreader 38 has'been continuously active to coat the upper surface of theplate 22 with @cracker crumbs-or the like, so that the top 5 surface of piston 108 before admission .to hopr 18, was prepared to apply a proper coatmg of cracker crumbs to the material forced into mold opening 24. Gain 32 is so 'formedc-that pistons 108 will fall before the mold openings passthe opening 72 in hopper bottom 64,-in orderthat i cracker crumbs, discharged from spreader 38,

. maybe retained on the upper surface of the piston-108. Also the top'surface ofiplate 22 around the openings 124 is coated with crumbs, the latter entering the hopper to be mixed with the materialcontained therein.

3 steak;

' the upper surface,

' of said cake.

- belt and into any suitable receptacle which may be provided. On the plate 22,the scraper;

I terial comprisinga feed hopper, an automatic This, is a valuable aid to reducingthe stickiness of the mass, especially in the case of ground meat for the making of hamburger continuously moving belt 224. Said belt slides the cake off the plate and onto the ai belt 36, which conveys it away to any suitable point. As the cake moves over said last named belt, the cracker-crumb spreader 40 discharges" a coating of cracker crumbs over and also around the edges Excess crumbs fall through said 238 is active to clean the top ofplate 22, and preventany meat or cracker crumbspr the like from passing beyond its edge, f

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

molding and cake discharging means associated with said hopper, a'pair of separate rotatable dusters for-applying powdered ma- The cake C, ejected by piston 108, is, now carried by plate 22 into contact with the As various possible embodiments might be I 7 made of the above invention, and as various changes -mounted thereon and dered material on one side an the other to the other side of each cake formed, a movable member mounted to remove the discharged cakes from the molding plate and means for simultaneously and continuously operating said automatic means, said dusters, and said removing member.

. terial to the formed cakes, one a plying pow- V 2. A cake'forming machinefor comminut ed, compressible material comprising a feed hopper, an automatic molding and cake discharging means associated with said hopper,

means mounted relativeto said automatic means for supplying a coating ofjpowdered material for one side of said cake, an apertured belt conveyor mounted to receivethe discharged cakes, and means mounted above said conveyor to apply a coating of said powdered material to the other side of said cake whereby excess of said powdered mate-' rial may fall thru the apertures insaid' conveyer. Y

3. A molding machine comprising, in combination, a base, driving means vmounted thereon and having a shaft extending-there,

from, a hopperhaving an putlet received on said shaft, means on said shaft for progressively carrying material in the hopper to said outlet, a molding plate, a shaft parallel to and spaced from said first shaft rotatably mounting said molding platein overlapping relation with respect to said hopper, "an

means on said firstshaft'for rotating said plate. A t

4. In combination, a base, a drive device mounted thereon including. arotatable shaft extending therefrom, a hopper centrally received on said shaft and' a gear fixed to said shaft-interposed between said drive device and said hopper, and a molding plate operatively connected to said gear.

5. In combination, a-base, a drive devicemounted thereon and having a shaft extend- I ing therefrom, a 'g'ear'fixed to said shaft and resting on said drive device, a hopper r vceived on saidshaft and resting on said gear,

and a cake forming plate operatively associated with said hopper and having drive engagement with said gear. g V

6. In combination. 'a base, a drive-device ing therefrom, a gear fixed to said shaft and resting on said; drive device,

having a shaft extend a hopper re-' ceived on said shaft and restingon said gear,

a support spaced from said shaft extending from said base, and a cake forming plate mounted thereon and being operatively asso ciated with. said hopper, said support operatively engaging said hopper to prevent rotation thereof, said plate having drive engagement with said gear.

7. A forming machine for comminuted compressible materlal comprising driving.

means including a rotatable shaft, a fixed hopper mounted on said shaft having a discharge opening, a molding plate mounted on a fixed shaft spaced from said first mentioned shaft to extend under said opening, means associated with said plate to form cakes, ejecting means associated with said forming means, and a conveyor positioned relative to said plate to remove said formed cakes, the effective centers of said shafts and conveyor being arranged along a straight line.

8. A1 hopper feed for a comminuted comressible material forming-machine-comprising a container having an open bottom, a closure for said bottomhaving an eccentric opening therethrough, an extension'formed on sai closure, said extension having an elongated gradually sloping undercut portion at the end of, said extension.

9. A device for shaping plastic, compressible material comprising a material feeding section, a material shapingasection, and a finished material delivery section, means to v apply a coating to the under surface of said finished material, and separate means to apply a coating to the remaining surface of said finished material, said coating applying means being operatively connected to said material shaping section for continuous and simultaneous movement therewith.

10. In a forming machine for meat cakes and the like, a base, a hopper removably mounted on said base and having a discharge outlet, a'continuously rotatable cake shaping device mounted to, move past said outlet, and means operatively connected to said device for simultaneous continuous operation therewith mounted to apply a coating to'said devicebefore the latter moves past said outlet.

11. In combination, a hopper for receiving plastic material having a discharge opening, a feeding member rotatable past said opening, and a stationary stop blade mounted within-said hopper above said feeding mem her and adjacent said opening whereby rotation'of said material within said hopper is 12. In a cake forming machine of the character described, in combination, astationary hopper provided with'a bottom wall having an opemng therein, a rotatable late having molds therein arranged to pass neath said opening, said bottom wall having a cut-away portion in the under surface thereof adjav cent said opening, said cut-away portion being in the formof an arc of a circle overly; ing the circular path of said molds, whereby cake forming material within said hopper may be guided into said molds. T d 13. In combination, a base, drive means on said base including a rotatable shaft'extending'upwardly therefrom, a hopper having an eccentric opening therein received'on said shaft, a. support on said base spaced from said shaft, and a molding plate removably carried by said support and operatively connected to said shaft for continuous rotaplate 7 and shaft, and means on said shaft for continuously driving said plate.

15. A- cake forming machine. for plastic material comprising a feed hopper provided with a bottom wall having an opening therein, rotary means for feeding said material thru said bottom wall, means mounted on said rotary means for agitating said material to prevent formation of pockets therein, and stop means within said hopper for retardin rotation of said material relative to sai hopper.

16. A cake forming machine for plastic material comprising a feed hopper provided with a bottom wall having an opening therein, rotary means for feeding said material thru said bottom wall, means mounted on said rotary means for agitating said material to prevent formation of pockets therein, and stop means within said hopper for retarding rotation of said material relative to said hopper, said bottom wall being formed with a cut-out portion having the shape of an arcof a circle in the under surface thereof adj acent said opening.

, 17. A cake forming machine for plastic material comprising a feed hopper provided with a bottom wall having an opening there- L 0 1n, rotary means for feeding said material thru said bottom wall, means mounted on said rotary means for agitating said material to prevent formation of pockets therein, and

stop means within said hopper for retarding rotation of said material relative tosaid hopper, said bottom wall bein formed with a cut-out portion having the of a circle in'the under surface ereof adjacent said opening, said bottom wall being extended beyond'said hopper, saidcut-out.

portion terminating at the edg portion of said extension. a

18. In combination, a base, drive means provided thereon including a rotatable shaft "extending therefrompa hopper received on said shaft, means for fixing said shaft against longitudinal movement, 'said'hopper having an outlet in the bottom wall thereof, means mounted on saidshaft for progressively feed ing material in saidhopper to said outlet, 7

and means, for adjusting'the height ofithe feeding means relative to said opening to regulate the pressure on thematerial fed said opening.

19.111 combination, a, base, drive provided thereon including a rotatable shaft l extending therefrom, a hopper received on said shaft, means for fixing said shaft against longitudinal movement, said hopper having an outlet in the bottom wall thereof, means including an internally threaded member mounted on said shaft for progressively feeding material in said hopper to said outlet, and means coacting with said internally threaded member and said shaft for adjusting the height of said feeding means relative to. said opening to regulate the pressure on the material fed thru said opening.

20. In combination, a rotatable shaft, means for fixing said shaft against longitudinal movement, a stationary hopper having a bottom wall received. on said shaft, said shaft having a threaded portion extending into said hopper, said wall having an openin g therein, and means for progressively feeding material in said hopper thru said openings, said means comprising a member having an internally threaded portion engaging the threaded portion of said shaft, and inclined vanes extending from said portion, the direction of the incline of said varies and the direction of said engaging threads being such that said feeding means will tend to move on said shaft toward said bottom wall during the feeding operation.

21. A cake forming machine comprising a shaft. a hopper mounted thereon, a forming and discharging plate, a second shaft parallel to said first shaft and spaced therefrom for mounting said plate, a discharging belt conveyor, and a single drive means for said several parts, said hopper shaft, plate shaft and conveyor being arranged in alignment.

22. In combination with a compressible material, continuously rotatable cake forming mechanism, and a pair of separate dusters operatively connected to said cake forming mechanism for continuous rotation therewith, one of said dusters being adapted to apply powdered material on one side, and the other duster being adapted to apply powdered material to the other side of each cake formed.

23. The combination with a base, drive means mounted on said base, said means comprising a vertical shaft journaled on said base for rotation, of a hopper mounted on said shaft and removable therefr0m,'a molding plate mounted on said base and having communication with said hopper, andmeans for moving said plate, said last named means comprising a gear mounted on said shaft beneath said hopper and supporting the latter, and a gear on said plate meshing with said first gear.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

NICOLAI LEWIS BIGTON. LOUIS X. GARFUNKEL. 

